QB Donovan Woods Continues to Improve

Robert Allen

10/06/2004

On Tuesday at practice freshman sensation Bobby Reid actually got a couple of reps with the first team offense. Current starting quarterback Donovan Woods didn't bat an eye. Woods knows this is his team right now.

He knows he's the starting quarterback and under his guidance the O-State offense is second in the Big 12 in scoring. He is comfortable with how he has played and how he is improving.

"I think each game this team is continuing to develop and come into its own," said Woods. "I think I'm trying to do the things the coaches are asking of me. If I keep doing that, we've got great leadership on this team. We are building ourselves into a great team."

As the wins increase, the Cowboys are now 4-0, each game becomes more important. Woods knows he will have to be at his best – better than any performance this season – to go 5-0 with a victory at Colorado on Saturday.

"Definitely will," said Woods. "A lot of people don't like to hear that game-by-game speech. If you don't do it that way then somebody is going to sneak up on you. Someone who you least expect would. Colorado is a great team, and we are going to prepare for them and give them the utmost respect because they are a great team. We know we're going to have to bring our best game into Boulder and be ready to play."

Despite all the attention on himself and the maturation of the passing offense, Woods knows who deserves credit, and those five guys in front of him are the ring leaders.

"I have nothing but respect for those guys," Woods said of the offensive line. "The offensive line is what makes your team go. If you have a great offensive line then your offense can go a long way. They get the job done. We have great backs, great receivers, and big time playmakers on offense, but the offensive line makes it go."

It is one of those offensive linemen that Woods credits with keeping the team loose. As a freshman quarterback Woods is sometimes the object of the jokes, but that doesn't bother him.

"Sam Mayes is the funniest guy. They make fun of the way I call my checks and stuff. Coach Miles made a good imitation the other day in the walk through. If you listen in practice, sometimes the offensive line makes fun of the way I call the checks, but that's fine as long as they understand that we are all in this together, and they can keep making fun of me as long as we're winning."

The Cowboys practice on Sunday evenings and that meant that Woods just missed seeing his older brother Rashaun catch his first career NFL touchdown pass.

"No, actually I didn't," explained Donovan of just missing Rashaun's catch in the corner of the end zone against the St. Louis Rams. "I thought the game was over and then I got three calls from teammates that told me that my brother scored a touchdown. I thought they were pulling my leg. Hopefully, I'll get to see it. I hope Mom and Dad were recording it because I know they were watching the game."

Donovan is going through growing pains and did last year as a redshirt. He can empathize with what Rashaun is going through in the NFL as a rookie.

"I'm glad that he's getting reps and things like that," said the 6-2, 215-pound quarterback. "I think he is a great receiver and I think he'll play a long time in the league. I want to see him out there. Hopefully, I can be out there with him someday."

Between Donovan, Rashaun, teammate and target D'Juan, and older brother Gary, the Woods do use their cell phones.

"Sometimes things come up with football and the way things are going," added Donovan of their conversations. "We talk about it, but we just keep it between brothers. We just try to help each other as much as we can. We're each other's support system. We just try to keep each other level headed."

Donovan Woods knows he needs to improve everyday. He knows there are fans out there who can't wait to see Bobby Reid play, but he also knows that right now this is his offense. He doesn't plan on that changing.